Chincoteague Island Christmas By The Sea 2014

...because even a cool day at the beach beats a day at work!

In an effort to attract more visitors to Chincoteague Island during the "off-season" local business owners and organizations have teamed up to sponsor the annual Christmas By The Sea. Beginning with the official lighting of the Town's Christmas tree on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, then all the way to the Polar Pony Plunge on New Years Day, the Christmas season in Chincoteague is chock full of family fun! Most events are free to any and all who care to join in! It’s casual an you are encouraged to come as you are. The Christmas season is a great time of year to visit Chincoteague Island. The average air temperature in December is 50 degrees with sunny skies.

2014 Christmas By The Sea Event Schedule - Click on the event or scroll down for more info.

• November 14th: Community Thanksgiving Praise
• November 28th: Christmas Manor comes to life
• November 28th & 29th: 28th Annual Deborah Waterfowl Show/Auction
• November 29th: Annual Chincoteague Christmas Tree Lighting
• November 29th: Movie Showing of "It's a Wonderful Life"
• December 3rd: Kiwanis Old Fashioned Pancake Supper
• December 6th: "Homes for the Holidays" Home Tour
• December 6th: Old Fashioned Christmas Parade
• December 7th: Gingerbread Boss Competition
• December 14th: Children's Tea Party with Mrs. Claus
• December 22nd: Santa visits the north side of Chincoteague Island
• December 23rd: Santa visits the south side of Chincoteague Island
• December 24th: Breakfast at Bill's Prime Seafood & Steaks
• December 24th: Worship at one of the Candlelight Services
• December 31st: 3rd Annual New Year's Eve Concert
• December 31st: New Year's Eve Pony Island Horeshoe Drop & Costume Promenade
• January 1st: New Year's Day Polar Pony Plunge @ 1:15pm

Location: The Chincoteague Center (6155 Community Drive - Chincoteague Island, VA)

Time: 7:00 pm

All are welcome to attend! Refreshments will be served. All donations will benefit the "Chincoteague Food Pantry" and the "Chincoteague Island Benevolent Association".

Sponsored by: CHINCOTEAGUE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION & CHINCOTEAGUE CENTER

Location: Chincoteague Island

Time: 5pm

Who would have thought..... Saint Nicks Summer get away right here on Chincoteague Island, all decked out for the holidays! How do these elves do it? Perhaps you can get the "INSIDE" scoop on the "Homes for the Holidays" Tour.

Location: Chincoteague Combined School (4586 Main Street)

Time: Fri. 1pm - 7pm | Sat. 9am - 6pm

The last decoy show of the year for Chicnoteague carvers and artists. Come do your Christmas Shopping.

Location: Robert Reed Downtown Park

Time: 5pm

Festivities start at 5p.m. in the Robert Reed Downtown Park. Chincoteague's holiday season officially begins! There will be holiday songs and caroling. Town officials, dignitaries and local celebrities will be among those attending. All are invited to join in the celebration. Many shops will be open after the tree lighting to offer early holiday shopping.

Sponsored by: HISTORIC MAIN STREET MERCHANTS

Location: The Island Theatre (4070 Main Street)

Time: 7pm

The tradition continues at the Island Theatre, showing Frank Capra's film "It's a Wonderful Life". You won't want to miss seeing this holiday classic on the big screen! Cost of Admission is FREE!

Sponsored by: KIWANIS CLUB OF CHINCOTEAGUE - H & H PHARMACY - MASON OIL COMPANY

Location: Bill's Prime Seafood & Steaks (4040 Main Street)

Time: 4:30pm - 7:30pm

In the true spirit of giving the Chincoteague Kiwanis Club holds its annual pancake supper on the first Wednesday in December. It is hosted by Bill's Seafood Restaurant (4040 Main Street) from 4:30pm-7:30pm. Kiwanis members and Bill's staff donate their time and tips to help families in need at the holidays. Tickets available from any Kiwanis Member, H & H Pharmacy or Mason Oil Co. Money raised will help make Christmas merrier for many this year. Kiwanis is an organization of volunteers....."Dedicated to Changing the World, One Child and One Community At A Time".

Sponsored by: CIAO (CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND ARTS ORGANIZATION)

Location: Chincoteague Island

Time: 11am - 4pm

Who wouldn't want to be home for the holiday if it could be in any one of the dozen extraordinary Chincoteague Island homes that go on tour for "Homes for the Holiday", the 2014 Chincoteague Island Holiday Home Tour.

The event, expected to be popular with locals as well as our out-of-town guest, is a great opportunity to peek inside remarkable homes that represent the architectural integrity and diversity of our eclectic community. Decked out in their finest for the holidays, the tour homes will have docents on duty to point out the rich history, architecture, distinctive features and decorations of each home. PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW ($20) Threadgoodes at Home (4211 Main Street, (757) - 336 - 6858).

Tickets are available in advance lw6er@yahoo.com for details.

THIS YEAR'S PROCEEDS BENEFIT IS THE SWING BRIDGE PROJECT.

Location: Maddox Blvd & Main Street, Chincoteague Island

Time: 7pm

A MUST SEE! Make sure to arrive in plenty of time to get the good seats.

A truly Old fashioned Christmas Parade, featuring floats, marching bands, color guards, Saltwater Cowboys, Fire Companies from around the shore, and much more. And YES! of course!... Santa himself will be making a special visit. There are prizes and awards in a variety of categories. The awards ceremony and up close visit with Saint Nick takes place at the Firehouse after the parade.

*** Look for the return of King Neptune and his Mermaid Queen... celebrating "Christmas By The Sea" ***

Sponsored by: CHINCOTEAGUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Location: The Chincoteague Center (6155 Community Drive)

Time: 12pm - 4pm

You're invited to watch the creative side of Islanders. Multiple Teams, three judges...

ONLY ONE BOSS!!!

The competition is fierce and fun in this bitter-sweet rivalry of sugary madness!!

(PART CAKE BOSS, PART CUT THROAT KITCHEN, PART TOP CHEF)

Don't miss this live interactive event which promises to be great family fun along with a bundle of laughs.

This Year's Competition Benefits the Chincoteague Food Pantry.

Price of Admission: Please bring canned & dry goods.

* CLICK HERE to download ENTRY FORM & details... All participants must read form thoroughly and sign to enter.

Sponsored by: CHINCOTEAGUE CENTER

Location: Hampton Inn & Suites (4179 Main Street)

Time: 2pm

Children's Tea Party with Mrs. Claus takes place at 2pm at the Hampton Inn (4179 Main Street Chincoteague Island).

While Santa Claus hustles and bustles in preparation for the big night, Mrs. Claus is doing much more than sugaring Santa’s cookies and shining his shoes.

Once again, Mrs. Claus, accompanied by Santa's elves, will travel all the way from the North Pole to be the guest of honor at the Christmas By the Sea children’s tea party at the Hampton Inn, Main Street Chincoteague.

The event has garnered so much attention, and with limited seating you must call now to reserve your child’s seat for 2PM.

"Santa agreed that I could come," said Mrs. Claus . "It'll be lots of fun."

Mrs. Claus, who knows Santa better than anyone, will show the children a scrapbook of her life with Santa. She’ll offer sing-a-long Christmas songs, games and gifts.

After the children have had their hot cocoa, kid-sized sandwiches and Christmas cookies, they’ll have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Queen of the North Pole.

"They'll learn things that will surprise them," said Mrs. Claus.

Pre-paid reservations are required at $15 per person. Call 757-894-0924. The children are encouraged to dress for a tea party. Accessories will be available for guests who do not have something. The Hampton Inn has free parking, easy access, and room for those escorting our Tea Party guests.

Sponsored by: HAMPTON INN & SUITES

Location: North Side of Chincoteague Island

Time: Approx 5:30pm

Catch Santa Claus going thru the north side of the Island! Santa will be on a Chincoteague Island Fire Truck. Keep an eye out for his arrival! Church Street will be the dividing line...

Sponsored by: CHINCOTEAGUE VOL FIRE COMPANY

Location: South Side of Chincoteague Island

Time: Approx 5:30pm

Catch Santa Claus going thru the south side of the Island! Santa will be on a Chincoteague Island Fire Truck. Keep an eye out for his arrival! Church Street will be the dividing line...

Sponsored by: CHINCOTEAGUE VOL FIRE COMPANY

Location: Bill's Prime Seafood & Steaks (4040 Main Street)

Time: 6am - 11:30am

Breakfast at Bill's Prime Seafood & Steaks is a Christmas Eve morning tradition. - Phone: (757) - 336 - 5831. Breakfast served from 6am thru 11:30am.

Location: Chincoteague Island

Time: Check local churches

Worship at one of the candlelight services offered by the churches on the Island.

Location: The Island Theatre (4074 Main Street)

Time: 8pm - 11:30pm (Doors open at 7:30)

Bill Toms and Hard Rain bring a mix of rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock and roll to the house! This will surely be another sold out event. (No refunds or exchanges. Beer and wine will be sold during the concert)

Cost of Admission: $30

TICKETS ON SALE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

SUNDIAL BOOKS - H & H PHARMACY (Cash or Check Only)

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND ARTS ORGANIZATION (PayPal, Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express)

Sponsored by: CIAO (CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND ARTS ORGANIZATION)

Location: Robert Reed Downtown Park

Time: 10pm

Join us for New Years Eve!

This year's theme is: SALTWATER COWBOYS & SEASIDE ANGELS

The Pony Island Horseshoe Drop is an end of year celebration that culminates in a promenade of crazy costumes just before the countdown to the stroke of midnight. That's when the lighted horseshoe drops just in time to ring in the New Year!....

It's not Swarovski Crystal...but it does sparkle!

Wear your favorite costume or just be a spectator... It's all perfectly natural here!

To become totally immersed in the oddest of silly visual spectacles, you should head for the Downtown Waterfront Park around 10:00PM.

Prizes will be awarded in various categories.

Bring your camera to capture the spectacle, dress warm, wear a hat and gloves for sure, and comfortable shoes so you can shimmy and dance to the beat, but most importantly; bring family and friends with you to enjoy the grand fun that is all Chincoteague!

Sponsored by: CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA - CHINCOTEAGUECHRISTMAS.COM

Location: Assateague Beach

Time: 1:15 PM

New Years Day (January 1, 2015)... Polar Pony Plunge (Thursday, 1/1/15 @ 1:15 PM)

...Even a cool day at the beach beats a day at work!

On the beach, Assateague Island VA look for the pony..and the crowd!!!

Surf’s Up! Hang Ten, Catch a Wave, or Take a Dip... whatever floats your boat.

Dress up, dress silly, or wear mittens and a scarf, just be the first on the first!

Nothing can compare to the invigorating feeling you get by plunging into the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean! It really is an awesome experience. There will be lots of fun all around. Plungers are encouraged to dress up in the zaniest, craziest costume they can come up with!

To convince the skeptics back at work, get a t-shirt to memorialize every chilling detail!

Prizes await the best costumes in many categories, and more! Just remember, if you decide to plunge, you'll need to read and sign the Plunge Waiver and Release Form. There is NO fee to enter the water.

Don't be left out in the cold!

Too Chicken to Plunge? You can still offer enthusiasm, and dip a finger or big toe in. Hey, be proud, and stand tall, someone had to hold the towel! And you can still buy a T-shirt!

CLICK HERE to download ENTRY FORM & details... All participants must read form thoroughly and sign to enter.

Sponsored by: CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA - CHINCOTEAGUECHRISTMAS.COM

This article was published by Chincoteague.com on 11/4/2014.
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